Photobiomodulation therapy systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Photobiomodulation therapy systems provide a highly effective way to treat many common ailments to the human body. Many embodiments described herein enable two or more light therapy devices to be communicatively coupled together in various ways. In some embodiments, the light therapy system includes a first light device and a second light device arranged and configured to be communicatively coupled to the first light device. Each of the light devices may include a housing, a communication module, and a plurality of lights arranged and configured to emit at least one of red light and near infrared light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The entire contents of the following application are incorporated byreference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/598,033; filedOct. 10, 2019; and entitled PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS.

The entire contents of the following application are incorporated byreference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/616,028; filedJun. 7, 2017; issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,828,505 on Nov. 10, 2020; andentitled THERAPEUTIC LIGHT SOURCE AND HANGING APPARATUS.

The entire contents of the following application are incorporated byreference herein: PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US18/18288; filed Mar.1, 2018; and entitled THERAPEUTIC LIGHT SOURCE AND MOUNTING APPARATUS.

The entire contents of the following application are incorporated byreference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/167,385; filedOct. 22, 2018; issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,033,752 on Jun. 15, 2021; andentitled PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY SYSTEMS AND METHODS.

The entire contents of the following application are incorporated byreference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/227,289; filedDec. 20, 2018; issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,478,635 on Nov. 19, 2019; andentitled PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY SYSTEMS AND METHODS.

The entire contents of the following application are incorporated byreference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/584,784; filedSep. 26, 2019; issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,639,495 on May 5, 2020; andentitled PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY SYSTEMS AND METHODS.

BACKGROUND Field

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to photobiomodulationtherapy systems and methods.

Description of Related Art

Photobiomodulation therapy (or light therapy) is a therapeutic techniquethat uses low-level wavelengths of light to improve health and treat avariety of health conditions, including skin issues, such as wrinkles,scars, and persistent wounds, among many other conditions. Similar tohow plants use sunlight to heal and grow, humans and animals are able toharness these wavelengths of light and turn them into cellular energy.This treatment stimulates the body's natural healing processes.

Currently, there are a number of photobiomodulation therapy devicesavailable on the market. However, many of these devices are too smalland require multiple sessions to treat large areas. As a result, thereis a need for a photobiomodulation therapy system that can treat severalareas in fewer treatments.

SUMMARY

This disclosure includes a variety of communicatively coupled lighttherapy systems. In some embodiments, the light therapy system includesa first light therapy device comprising a first housing, a firstplurality of lights arranged and configured to emit at least one of redlight and near infrared light, and a first communication modulecommunicatively coupled to the first plurality of lights. Someembodiments may also include a second light therapy device configured tobe communicatively coupled to the first light therapy device. The secondlight therapy device may have a second housing, a second plurality oflight arranged and configured to emit at least one of red light and nearinfrared light, and a second communication module communicativelycoupled to the second plurality of lights.

The first communication module and the second communication module maybe communicatively coupled via a wireless connection such as a Bluetoothconnection. Alternatively, some embodiments may be communicativelycoupled via a wired connection. In some embodiments, the first lighttherapy device further comprises a first plurality of communicationports coupled to the first housing and communicatively coupled to thefirst communication module. Similarly, the second light therapy devicemay also further comprise a second plurality of communication portscoupled to the second housing and communicatively coupled to the secondcommunication module. The first light therapy device and the secondlight therapy device may me communicatively coupled via a wiredconnection from the first plurality of communication ports to the secondplurality of communication ports.

The first light therapy device and the second light therapy device mayeach be configured to operate in one of a lead mode and a follow mode.When the first light therapy device operates in the lead mode and thesecond light therapy device operates in the follow mode, the secondlight device may perform operations as instructed by the first lighttherapy device.

In some embodiments, the first light therapy device and the second lighttherapy device may each be configured to operate in a neutral mode. Forexample, when the second light therapy device operates in the neutralmode the second light therapy device may operate independently of thefirst light therapy device.

To control the light therapy device, some embodiments may furthercomprise a first plurality of input buttons coupled to the first housingand communicatively coupled to the first communication module.Accordingly, the system may further include a second plurality of inputbuttons coupled to the second housing and communicatively coupled to thesecond communication module. The first plurality of input buttons may bearranged and configured to control a treatment time of the first lighttherapy device, cause light to be emitted from at least a portion of thefirst plurality of lights, and cause light not to be emitted from atleast a portion of the first plurality of lights. Likewise, the secondplurality of input buttons may be arranged and configured to control atreatment time of the second light therapy device, cause light to beemitted from at least a portion of the second plurality of lights, andcause light not to be emitted from at least a portion of the secondplurality of lights.

In some embodiments, the first plurality of input buttons may comprise afirst time button, a first play/pause button, and a first mode button.Similarly, the second plurality of input buttons may comprise a secondtime button, a second play/pause button, and a second mode button.

In some embodiments, a first press of the first time button may increasethe treatment time of the first light therapy device by a predeterminedamount of time. Similarly, a first press of the second time button mayincrease the treatment time of the second light therapy device by thepredetermined amount of time. A first press of the first play/pausebutton may cause at least a portion of the first plurality of lights toemit light and a second press of the first play/pause button may causeat least a portion of the first plurality of lights to not emit light.Likewise, a first press of the second play/pause button may cause atleast a portion of the second plurality of lights to emit light and asecond press of the second play/pause button may cause at least aportion of the second plurality of lights to not emit light.

Even still, in some embodiments, a first press of the first mode buttonmay cause at least a portion of red lights of the first plurality oflights to emit red light and at least a portion of near infrared lightsof the first plurality of lights to not emit near infrared light.Furthermore, a second press of the first mode button may cause at leasta portion of red lights of the first plurality of lights to not emit redlight and at least a portion of near infrared lights of the firstplurality of lights to emit near infrared light. Similarly, a firstpress of the second mode button may cause at least a portion of redlights of the second plurality of lights to emit red light and at leasta portion of near infrared lights of the second plurality of lights tonot emit near infrared light. Furthermore, a second press of the secondmode button may cause at least a portion of red lights of the secondplurality of lights to not emit red light and at least a portion of nearinfrared lights of the second plurality of lights to emit near infraredlight.

To indicate which lights will be used during treatment, some embodimentsof the system may further comprise a first pair of indication lightsthat may be coupled to the first housing and communicatively coupled tothe first plurality of input buttons. In some embodiments, the firstpair of indication lights may be arranged and configured to indicatewhether a portion of red lights of the first plurality of lights isemitting red light and whether a portion of near infrared lights of thefirst plurality of lights is emitting near infrared light. Similarly, insome embodiments, the system further includes a second pair ofindication lights coupled to the second housing and communicativelycoupled to the second plurality of input buttons. The second pair ofindication lights may be arranged and configured to indicate whether aportion of red lights of the second plurality of lights is emitting redlight and whether a portion of near infrared lights of the secondplurality of lights is emitting near infrared light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages are described belowwith reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, butnot to limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference charactersdenote corresponding features consistently throughout similarembodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a light therapy system, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a light therapy systemcommunicatively coupled wirelessly, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a light therapy system,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4a illustrates a back view of a light therapy device, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 4b illustrates a back view of a light therapy systemcommunicatively coupled via a wired connection.

FIG. 5 illustrates a back view of a light therapy system, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 6A illustrates a top left perspective view of a light therapysystem, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6B illustrates a zoomed in view of a control panel, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart for operating the time button, accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart for operating the play/pause button,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart for operating the mode button, accordingto some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed below, inventivesubject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments toother alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications andequivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto isnot limited by any of the particular embodiments described below. Forexample, in any system or device disclosed herein, the acts oroperations of the system or device may be performed in any suitablesequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosedsequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discreteoperations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understandingcertain embodiments; however, the order of description should not beconstrued to imply that these operations are order dependent.Additionally, the structures, methods, and/or procedures describedherein may be embodied as integrated components or as separatecomponents.

For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects andadvantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all suchaspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus,for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner thatachieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taughtherein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as mayalso be taught or suggested herein.

INDEX OF COMPONENTS

-   10—Light therapy system-   12—Light therapy device-   14—Housing-   16—Plurality of lights-   24—Communication module-   26—Plurality of communication ports-   28—Communication Cable-   70—Lead mode-   80—Follow mode-   90—Neutral mode-   92—Power switch-   100—Control panel-   110—Plurality of buttons-   112—Time button-   114—Play/pause button-   116—Mode button-   120—Pair of indication lights

Introduction

Light therapy provides an alternative option for treating many commonailments and diseases. For example, when the human body is exposed tored light, blue light, green light, and/or near infrared light, subjectscan expect to see improvement in multiple skin conditions, weight loss,muscle recovery, sexual performance, joint pain, and thyroid function.Instead of using prescription medications to solve these many problems,light therapy can be used in place of these traditional remedies toachieve safe and effective results.

Many top professionals have adopted light therapy, but oftentimes thelight therapy devices and systems used are not big enough to treat anentire body at once. Accordingly, many embodiments described hereinenable two or more light therapy devices to be communicatively coupledtogether to form a light therapy system. In doing so, the area oftreatment can be expanded to reduce the time and number of treatments toachieve the desired results.

System Embodiments

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a light therapy system 10 having afirst light therapy device 12 a and a second light therapy device 12 b.In some embodiments, the first light therapy device 12 a may have afirst housing 14 a, a first plurality of lights 16 a, and a firstcommunication module 24 a. The first plurality of lights 16 a may bemechanically coupled to the first housing 14 a. In some embodiments, thefirst plurality of lights 16 a may be red lights, near infrared lights,or some combination of red lights and near infrared lights. The firstcommunication module 24 a may be communicatively coupled to the firstplurality of lights 16 a such that the first plurality of lights 16 amay receive instructions and thereby operate in a specific manner.

Furthermore, FIG. 1 also shows the light therapy system 10 having asecond light therapy device 12 b, which is communicatively coupled tothe first light therapy device 12 a. Similar to the first light therapydevice 12 a, the second light therapy device 12 b may include a secondhousing 14 b, a second plurality of lights 16 b, and a secondcommunication module 24 b. The second plurality of lights 16 b may bemechanically coupled to the second housing 14 b. In some embodiments,the second plurality of lights 16 b may be red lights, near infraredlights, or some combination of red lights and near infrared lights. Thesecond communication module 24 b may be communicatively coupled to thesecond plurality of lights 16 b such that the second plurality of lights16 b may also receive instructions.

In many embodiments, the light therapy devices 12 are communicativelycoupled to each other. In this regard, the first therapy device 12 a maybe communicatively coupled to the second light therapy device 12 bwhereby either of the devices 12 is able to control the other respectivedevice 12. Such functionality may allow one or more light devices 12 toact as one cohesive system to more effectively provide treatment for apatient.

Because multiple light therapy devices 12 may be communicatively coupledtogether, this may allow for the light therapy system 10 to be locatedin one location or various remote locations. For example, in someembodiments, a light therapy system 10 a may comprise two or more lighttherapy devices communicatively coupled together and physically locatedwithin close proximity of each other, such as in the same treatmentroom. However, in some embodiments, a light therapy system 10 b maycomprise two or more light therapy devices communicatively coupledtogether but the two or more light therapy devices are physicallylocated remotely with respect to each other, such as in differentcities. Communicatively coupling remotely located light therapy devices12 may be effective for a variety of scenarios, such as a clinician whois remotely located with respect to a patient and thereby wants torender treatment for the patient. The clinician may communicativelycouple a light therapy device 12, or a remote computing device (e.g. asmartphone), located in the clinician's office to one or more lighttherapy devices 12 located nearby the patient. The clinician may therebytreat the patient, even though the clinician and patient are physicallylocated in remote locations with respect to the other.

To achieve the communicative coupling, the devices 12 may becommunicatively coupled via communication modules 24. For example, FIG.2 depicts a light therapy system 10 including a first light therapydevice 12 a having a first communication module 24 a, a second lighttherapy device 12 b having a second communication module 24 b, a thirdlight therapy device 12 c having a third communication module 24 c, anda fourth light therapy device 12 d having a fourth communication module24 d. FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a light therapy system 10in which there are multiple light therapy devices 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and12 d that are communicatively coupled wirelessly. In this embodiment, auser is standing in the middle of the light therapy system 10 to treatthe entire body with light therapy simultaneously. The light therapydevices 12 may be communicatively coupled wirelessly by any suitablecommunication protocol, such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, BLE, Z-Wave,near-field communication (NFC), cellular network protocols (3G, 4G, 5G),Wi-Fi, and the like. The person of ordinary skill in the art may selecta protocol that suits the needs and physical locations of the lighttherapy devices 12 being communicatively coupled together.

While FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate 2 or 4 light therapy devices incommunication with each other; it should be appreciated that any numberof light therapy devices may be communicatively coupled together. Forexample, in some embodiments, the light therapy system includes 3, 5, 6,7, 8 or more devices communicatively coupled together. Generally, anynumber of devices may be communicatively coupled using any respectivecommunication protocol.

Furthermore, the light therapy system 10 may also include other devices,such as remote computing devices (e.g. smartphone, tablet, computer, andthe like), located remotely with respect to the light devices 12. Inthis regard, a plurality of light devices 12 may be communicativelycoupled to one another, and the plurality of light devices 12 mayfurther be communicatively coupled to a remote computing device operatedby a third party. For example, a third party clinician or technician maycommunicatively couple their remote computing device to the lighttherapy system 10 to remotely communicate with the system 10. This mayassist clinicians in providing treatment to patients, technicians introubleshooting problems with the light therapy system, and the like.

Light therapy devices 12 may also be communicatively coupled via a wiredconnection. To communicatively couple light therapy devices 12 via awired connection, some embodiments feature a plurality of communicationports 26 which may be located on the housing 14. In some embodiments, atleast one port of the plurality of communication ports 26 may beconfigured to send signal from the first light therapy device 12 a tothe second light therapy device 12 b. Similarly, at least one port ofthe plurality of communication ports 26 may be configured to receivesignal from another light therapy device 12. In some embodiments, acommunication cable 28 may be inserted into the pluralities ofcommunication ports 26 to communicatively couple the light therapydevices 12.

As shown in FIG. 4b , which illustrates the backside of a light therapysystem 10, a plurality of light therapy devices 12 may becommunicatively coupled together using communication cables 28 tothereby form the system 10. Communicatively coupling the light therapydevices 12 in this way allows the light therapy devices 12 to becontrolled by one set of instructions. As shown in FIG. 4a , each lighttherapy device 12 may comprise a plurality of communication ports 26used to communicatively couple more than one device 12 together viawires. As shown in FIG. 4b , a first light therapy device 12 a iscommunicatively coupled to the second light therapy device 12 b by afirst communication cable 28 a, which is inserted into the firstplurality of communication ports 26 a and the second plurality ofcommunication ports 26 b. In a similar fashion, the second light therapydevice 12 b may be communicatively coupled to a third light therapydevice 12 c by inserting a second communication cable 28 b into thesecond plurality of communication ports 26 b and the third plurality ofcommunication ports 26 c. A fourth light therapy device 12 d may becommunicatively coupled to the light therapy system 10 by inserting athird communication cable 28 c into the third plurality of communicationports 26 c and the fourth plurality of communication ports 26 d.Similarly, a fifth light therapy device 12 e may be communicativelycoupled to the light therapy system 10 by inserting a fourthcommunication cable 28 d into the fourth plurality of communicationports 26 d and the fifth plurality of communication ports 26 e. Finally,a sixth light therapy device 12 f may be communicatively coupled to thelight therapy system 10 by inserting a fifth communication cable 28 einto the fifth plurality of communication ports 26 e and a sixthplurality of communication ports 26 f. Communicatively coupling thelight therapy devices 12 in this way enables the entire light therapysystem 10 to be controlled one set of input commands.

The embodiment depicted in FIG. 4b has six light therapy devices 12communicatively coupled via communication cables 28. In someembodiments, there may only be two light therapy devices 12. In otherembodiments, there may be more than six light therapy devices 12communicatively coupled via a wired or a wireless connection.Additionally, the light therapy devices 12 may be communicativelycoupled in series or in parallel. The light therapy system 10 of FIG. 4bis communicatively coupled in series. Alternatively, the first lighttherapy device 12 a may communicatively couple to the second lighttherapy device 12 b and the third light therapy device 12 c directly.For example, the first communication cable 28 a may be inserted into thefirst plurality of communication ports 26 a and the second plurality ofcommunications ports 26 b. Similarly, the second communication cable 28b may also be inserted into the first plurality of communication ports26 a and the third plurality of communication ports 26 c. This patternmay continue for as many light therapy devices 12 as necessary, or thelight therapy devices 12 may be communicatively coupled in anycombination of series and parallel wired connections.

To ensure that the light therapy devices 12 operate in the same way,some embodiments feature a lead mode 70 and a follow mode 80. A lighttherapy device 12 that is configured to be in the lead mode 70 may sendoperation instructions to all other light therapy devices 12 in thesystem 10. A light therapy device 12 that is configured to be in thefollow mode 80 may receive operation instructions from a light therapydevice 12 that is in the lead mode 70.

FIG. 5 illustrates a light therapy system 10 with a first light therapydevice 12 a having a power switch 92, a lead mode 70, a follow mode 80,and a neutral mode 90. A user may thereby select the desired mode byswitching a three-way toggle switch between lead mode 70, follow mode80, and neutral mode 90. In some embodiments, a light therapy system 10may comprise a first light therapy device 12 a configured to be in thelead mode 70, while all other light therapy devices 12 are in the followmode 80. Configuring the light therapy system 10 in this way may forcethe light therapy devices 12 to operate in the same way. In someembodiments, there may be more than one light therapy device 12 in thelead mode 70. For example, a light therapy system 10 may comprise sixlight therapy devices 12, whereby two light therapy devices 12 are inthe lead mode and four light therapy devices 12 are in the follow mode.In such embodiments, either of the two light therapy devices 12 in thelead mode may control the other four light devices 12 in the followmode. It should be appreciated that any number of light therapy devicesmay be in the follow mode 80.

A light therapy device 12 configured to be in neutral mode 90 mayoperate on its own and may ignore instructions sent from a light therapydevice 12 in the lead mode 70. In this manner, the light therapydevice(s) 12 in the neutral mode may ignore incoming signals. In someembodiments, there may be none, one, or more than one light therapydevice 12 in the lead mode 70, none, one, or more than one light therapydevice 12 in the follow mode 80, and none, one, or more than one lighttherapy device 12 in neutral mode 90. Any combination of light therapydevices 12 configured in the lead mode 70, the follow mode 80, and theneutral mode 90 may be used to achieve any combination of treatmenttypes.

As shown in FIG. 6a , in order to control the first light therapy device12 a, some embodiments feature a first control panel 100 a located onthe first housing 14 a and communicatively coupled to the firstcommunication module 24 a. The first control panel 100 a may allow auser to control a treatment time and cause at least a portion of thefirst plurality of lights 16 a to either emit or not emit red light ornear infrared light. Similarly, the second light therapy device 12 b mayhave a second control panel 100 b located on the second housing 14 b andcommunicatively coupled to the second communication module 24 b. Thesecond control panel 100 b may implement the same controls as the firstcontrol panel 100 a.

FIG. 6a shows one embodiment of a light therapy system 10 with a firstlight therapy device 12 a featuring a control panel 100. FIG. 6b shows asimilar embodiment zoomed in to the control panel 100 having a pluralityof input buttons 110, a time button 112, a play/pause button 114, a modebutton 116, and a pair of indication lights 120. FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 showa flow chart of what each button may do when pressed.

In some embodiments, the plurality of input buttons 110 may have a timebutton 112 which, when pressed a first time 700, may be configured toincrease the treatment time by a predetermined amount of time 702. Insome embodiments, the predetermined amount of time may be one minute,five minutes, or any amount of time including negative amounts of time.Each additional press 704 of the time button 112 may increase thetreatment time by the same predetermined amount of time 706. In someembodiments, the control panel 100 may be configured to have apredetermined maximum treatment time, for example twenty minutes. Inembodiments such as these, if the treatment time is set to thepredetermined maximum treatment time and the time button 112 is pressedonce more the treatment time may change to a predetermined minimumtreatment time instead of adding another predetermined amount of time.If the light therapy device 12 is in the lead mode 70, the treatmenttime may be sent to other light therapy devices 12 in the system 10 thatare configured to be in the follow mode 80. If the light therapy device12 is in the neutral mode 90, the treatment time may not be sent to anyother light therapy devices 12 in the system 10 and the light therapydevice 12 may ignore other incoming instructions.

The plurality of input buttons 110 may also have a play/pause button 114which, when pressed a first time 800, may be configured to cause atleast a portion of the plurality of lights 16 to emit red light and/ornear infrared light 802. In some embodiments, the play/pause button 114,when pressed a second time 804, may be configured to cause at least aportion of the plurality of lights 16 to not emit red light and/or nearinfrared light 806. The play/pause button 114 may start, pause, orcontinue the treatment time as set by the time button 112. This allowsthe user to pause the treatment session without having to restart fromthe beginning. Pressing the play/pause button 114 on light therapydevices 12 configured to be in the lead mode 70 may start the treatmentfor other light therapy devices 12 in the system 10 including those infollow mode 80. Generally, light therapy devices 12 in the lead mode 70may send instructions to other light therapy devices 12 in the followmode 80 to operate in the same way.

Furthermore, the plurality of input buttons 110 may also have a modebutton 116. When the mode button 116 is pressed this may change the typeof light emitted from at least a portion of the plurality of lights 16during treatment. For instance, in some embodiments, at least a portionof the plurality of lights 16 may be configured to automatically emitboth red light and near infrared light when the treatment starts, butwhen the mode button 116 is pressed a first time 900 at least a portionof the plurality of lights 16 may be configured to emit red light andnot emit near infrared light 902 when treatment starts. In someembodiments, when the mode button 116 is pressed a second time 904 atleast a portion of the plurality of lights 16 may be configured to emitnear infrared light and not emit red light 906 when treatment starts.Similarly, in other embodiments, a third press of the mode button 116may configure at least a portion of the plurality of lights 16 to emitboth red light and near infrared light. Although only one set of pressbutton commands is specifically mentioned herein, it should beappreciated that any order or combination of button presses may be used.For example, in some embodiments, when the mode button 116 is pressed afirst time 900 at least a portion of the plurality of lights 16 may beconfigured to emit both red light and near infrared light 902 whentreatment starts. However, it should be appreciated that any lightwavelength or combination of light wavelengths from 100 to 1,000nanometers (nm), such as UV, blue, green, red, and near-infrared, may beimplemented in the system 10 and thereby emitted or not emitted from theplurality of lights 16. Accordingly, any of the input buttons 110 may bearranged and configured to control the plurality of lights 16 to emitand/or not emit light included in any combination of light wavelengthsfrom 100 to 1,000 nm.

With continued reference to FIG. 6b , when the light therapy system 10has not yet started treatment or is paused it may be difficult todetermine if the treatment will consist of red light, near infraredlight, or both. To make it easier to determine which lights are active,some embodiments feature a pair of indication lights 120 located on thecontrol panel 100. One light of the pair of indication lights 120 may belabeled red and the other may be labeled near infrared or simplyinfrared. The pair of indication lights 120 may indicate to a user thetyped of light that will be emitted when the treatment starts orcontinues by illuminating one or both indication lights 120. Forexample, in some embodiments, when the plurality of lights 16 isconfigured to emit only red light during treatment the indication lightlabeled red may be illuminated and the indication light labeled infraredmay not be illuminated. Similarly, when the plurality of lights 16 isconfigured to emit only near infrared light during treatment theindication light labeled infrared may be illuminated and the indicationlight labeled red may not be illuminated. Moreover, when the pluralityof lights 16 is configured to emit both red light and near infraredlight during treatment the indication light labeled red may beilluminated and the indication light labeled infrared may also beilluminated.

Interpretation

None of the steps described herein is essential or indispensable. Any ofthe steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can beused. Any portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/ordevices disclosed or illustrated in one embodiment, flowchart, orexample in this specification can be combined or used with or instead ofany other portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/ordevices disclosed or illustrated in a different embodiment, flowchart,or example. The embodiments and examples provided herein are notintended to be discrete and separate from each other.

The section headings and subheadings provided herein are nonlimiting.The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the fullscope of the embodiments described in the sections to which the headingsand subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled “Topic 1” mayinclude embodiments that do not pertain to Topic 1 and embodimentsdescribed in other sections may apply to and be combined withembodiments described within the “Topic 1” section.

Some of the devices, systems, embodiments, and processes use computers.Each of the routines, processes, methods, and algorithms described inthe preceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partiallyautomated by, code modules executed by one or more computers, computerprocessors, or machines configured to execute computer instructions. Thecode modules may be stored on any type of non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium or tangible computer storage device,such as hard drives, solid state memory, flash memory, optical disc,and/or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implementedpartially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The results ofthe disclosed processes and process steps may be stored, persistently orotherwise, in any type of non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g.,volatile or non-volatile storage.

The various features and processes described above may be usedindependently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. Allpossible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall withinthe scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state,or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods,steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to anyparticular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating theretocan be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example,described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than theorder specifically disclosed. Multiple steps may be combined in a singleblock or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial,in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to orremoved from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems andcomponents described herein may be configured differently thandescribed. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, orrearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/orsteps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required forone or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarilyinclude logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting,whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to beperformed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,”“including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are usedinclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additionalelements, features, acts, operations and so forth. Also, the term “or”is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so thatwhen used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or”means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctivelanguage such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unlessspecifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the contextas used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X,Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended toimply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least oneof Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.

The term “and/or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or”applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and/or C can be replaced withA, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in anothersentence. A, B, and/or C means that some embodiments can include A andB, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include Band C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can includeonly B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments caninclude A, B, and C. The term “and/or” is used to avoid unnecessaryredundancy.

While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodimentshave been presented by way of example only, and are not intended tolimit the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in theforegoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature,characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable.Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodiedin a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions,substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systemsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light therapy system, comprising: a first lighttherapy device comprising a first housing, a first plurality of lightsarranged and configured to emit red light or near-infrared light; and asecond light therapy device comprising a second housing, a secondplurality of lights arranged and configured to emit red light ornear-infrared light, the second light therapy device configured tocommunicatively couple to the first light therapy device, wherein thefirst light therapy device and the second light therapy device are eachconfigured to operate in a lead mode and a follow mode, and wherein,when the first light therapy device operates in the lead mode and thesecond light therapy device operates in the follow mode, the first lighttherapy device instructs the second light therapy device to performoperations, and when the second light therapy device operates in thelead mode and the first light therapy device operates in the followmode, the second light therapy device instructs the first light therapydevice to perform operations.
 2. The light therapy system of claim 1,further comprising: a first plurality of communication ports coupled tothe first housing, the first plurality of communication ports comprisingan input port and an output port; a second plurality of communicationports coupled to the second housing, the second plurality ofcommunication ports comprising an input port and an output port; and afirst communication cable having a first end and a second end locatedopposite the first end, the first end configured to couple to the outputport of the first plurality of communication ports and the second endconfigured to couple to the input port of the second plurality ofcommunication ports to thereby communicatively couple the first lighttherapy device and the second light therapy device such that the secondlight therapy device performs operations as instructed by the firstlight therapy device.
 3. The light therapy system of claim 2, furthercomprising: a third light therapy device comprising a third housing, athird plurality of lights arranged and configured to emit red light ornear-infrared light, and a third plurality of communication portscoupled to the third housing, the third plurality of communication portscomprising an input port and an output port, the third light therapydevice configured to communicatively couple to the second light therapydevice; and a fourth light therapy device comprising a fourth housing, afourth plurality of lights arranged and configured to emit red light ornear-infrared light, and a fourth plurality of communication portscoupled to the fourth housing, the fourth plurality of communicationports comprising an input port and an output port, the fourth lighttherapy device configured to communicatively couple to the third lighttherapy device, wherein the third light therapy device and the fourthlight therapy device are each configured to operate in the lead mode andthe follow mode.
 4. The light therapy system of claim 3, furthercomprising: a second communication cable configured to couple to theoutput port of the second plurality of communication ports and the inputport of the third plurality of communication ports, therebycommunicatively coupling the second light therapy device and the thirdlight therapy device such that the second light therapy device isconfigured to transmit instructions from the first light therapy device,and the third light therapy device is configured to receive and performthe instructions; and a third communication cable configured to coupleto the output port of the third plurality of communication ports and theinput port of the fourth plurality of communication ports, therebycommunicatively coupling the third light therapy device and the fourthlight therapy device such that the second light therapy device isconfigured to transmit instructions from the first light therapy device,the third light therapy device is configured to transmit theinstructions from the second light therapy device, and the fourth lighttherapy device is configured to receive and perform the instructions. 5.The light therapy system of claim 1, wherein each of the first lighttherapy device and the second light therapy device are configured tooperate in one of the lead mode, the follow mode, and a neutral mode. 6.The light therapy system of claim 5, wherein while the first lighttherapy device operates in the neutral mode, the first light therapydevice performs operations independently of the second light therapydevice, and when the second light therapy device operates in the neutralmode, the second light therapy device performs operations independentlyof the first light therapy device.
 7. The light therapy system of claim1, further comprising a first control panel coupled to the first housingand communicatively coupled to the first plurality of lights, and asecond control panel coupled to the second housing and communicativelycoupled to the second plurality of lights.
 8. The light therapy systemof claim 7, further comprising: a third light therapy device comprisinga third housing, a third plurality of lights arranged and configured toemit red light or near-infrared light, and a third control panel coupledto the third housing and communicatively coupled to the third pluralityof lights; and a fourth light therapy device comprising a fourthhousing, a fourth plurality of lights arranged and configured to emitred light or near-infrared light, and a fourth control panel coupled tothe fourth housing and communicatively coupled to the fourth pluralityof lights, wherein the first light therapy device, the second lighttherapy device, the third light therapy device, and the fourth lighttherapy device are each configured to operate in the lead mode, thefollow mode, and a neutral mode.
 9. The light therapy system of claim 8,wherein each of the first control panel, the second control panel, thethird control panel, and the fourth control panel comprises a respectiveplurality of input buttons configured to control a treatment time, atype of light emitted, or a commencement and a pausing of lightemission.
 10. The light therapy system of claim 8, wherein when thefirst light therapy device operates in the lead mode and each of thesecond light therapy device, third light therapy device, and fourthlight therapy device operates in the follow mode, the first controlpanel is configured to control the first plurality of lights, the secondplurality of lights, the third plurality of lights, and the fourthplurality of lights.
 11. The light therapy system of claim 8, wherein:when the first light therapy device operates in the neutral mode, thefirst control panel is configured to control the first plurality oflights, when the second light therapy device operates in the neutralmode, the second control panel is configured to control the secondplurality of lights, when the third light therapy device operates in theneutral mode, the third control panel is configured to control the thirdplurality of lights, and when the fourth light therapy device operatesin the neutral mode, the fourth control panel is configured to controlthe fourth plurality of lights.
 12. A light therapy device, comprising:a housing; and a plurality of lights coupled to the housing, theplurality of lights configured to emit red light or near-infrared light,wherein the light therapy device is configured to operate in one of alead mode, a follow mode, and a neutral mode.
 13. The light therapydevice of claim 12, further comprising one or more communication portscoupled to the housing and configured to receive one or morecommunication cables, the one or more communication ports configured forinput, output, and combinations thereof.
 14. The light therapy device ofclaim 12, further comprising a control panel coupled to the housing andoperatively coupled to the plurality of lights.
 15. The light therapydevice of claim 14, wherein the control panel comprises a plurality ofinput buttons configured to control the plurality of lights.
 16. Thelight therapy device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of input buttonscomprises a mode button configured to select emission of red light oremission of near-infrared light from the plurality of lights.
 17. Thelight therapy device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of input buttonscomprises a time button configured to select a treatment time.
 18. Thelight therapy device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of input buttonscomprises a play/pause button configured to start and pause lightemission from the plurality of lights.
 19. A method of communicativelycoupling a first light therapy device comprising a first plurality oflights configured to emit red light or near-infrared light, and a secondlight therapy device comprising a second plurality of lights configuredto emit red light or near-infrared light, the method comprising:coupling a first end of a communication cable to an output port locatedon the first light therapy device; and coupling a second end of thecommunication cable to an input port located on the second light therapydevice, wherein the second end of the communication cable is locatedopposite the first end, wherein, when the first light therapy device andthe second light therapy device are communicatively coupled via thecommunication cable the first light therapy device is configured toinstruct the second light therapy device to perform operations such thatthe first plurality of lights and the second plurality of lights arecontrolled by a control panel coupled to the first light therapy device.20. The method of claim 19, wherein when the first light therapy deviceand the second light therapy device are communicatively coupled suchthat the first light therapy device is configured to instruct the secondlight therapy device to perform operations, the first light therapydevice is configured to operate in a lead mode and the second lighttherapy device is configured to operate in a follow mode.